Dubai: A five-year-old Arab girl, who had been suffering from a watermelon-sized scalp tumour, has undergone a life-changing procedure after doctors in Dubai successfully removed the tumour, believed to be the largest of its kind in the world.
The young girl has made a remarkable recovery after doctors at Medcare Hospital Al Safa removed the scalp tumour measuring 20cm by 10cm, which, they said, is one of the largest ever documented in recent medical history, and hence the surgery represents an exceptional medical milestone.
The tumour was a result of Tuberous Sclerosis Complex (TSC), a genetic disorder that causes benign skin lesions and seizures. TSC and subsequent skin lesions affect approximately one million people worldwide. Each year, around one out of every 6,000 children are born with the condition.
Socially isolated
The young girl’s life had been severely impacted by the tumour, causing discomfort and hair loss, which led to her becoming increasingly isolated from her peers. Her condition was unusually severe, far exceeding the typical skin tumour size of 6cm.
Her parents first noticed a small lump on the back of her head when she was just a year old, alongside severe seizures. Over the years, the lesion continued to grow and became ulcerated, causing frequent bleeding and raising the risk of infection.
For years, the enormous tumour interfered with the child’s ability to sleep, play, and interact socially, as her hair loss made her self-conscious and reluctant to engage in community activities. She was unable to attend school and struggled with socialisation due to the physical and emotional toll of the condition.
Complex surgery
The lesion was discovered to be firm and immobile during an examination at the hospital. The underlying skin was mostly devoid of hair. To determine intracranial extension, a CT scan and an MRI scan of the head were taken. Given the size and complexity of the tumour, surgery was the only viable option, explained Dr Jamil Al Jamali, Consultant Plastic Surgeon at Medcare Hospital Al Safa.
